Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup — Part III

Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup --- Part III
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 15 March 2010, was last revised on 18 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:03(17). —————————————– The hunting party proceeded to the next promising rattlesnake den down the canyon. As we traveled, the raw beauty of the place became more and more evident. Some will question such ...

Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup — Part II

Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup --- Part II
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 15 March 2010, was last revised on 18 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:03(16). —————————————– March 12, 2010: At about 10:15 A.M., the Nolan County Coliseum loudspeaker announced that the rattlesnake roundup guided hunt was about to begin. All the registered hunters gathered at the back of ...

Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup–PART I

Sweetwater Texas, 2010 Rattlesnake Roundup--PART I
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 11 March 2010, was last revised on 18 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:03(14). —————————————– March 11, 2010: The 52nd Annual Sweetwater, Texas, Rattlesnake Roundup is off and running, and BugsInTheNews is there. I arrived in Sweetwater last night, and spent the day touring the grounds at ...

North American Snake Marking & Coloration Guide

North American Snake Marking & Coloration Guide
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 7 March 2010, was last revised on 23 October 2013. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:03(13). —————————————– Note: Most of the photos shown on this page were provided by viewers who, in return for identifying the specimen photographed, granted exclusive use of their images. In turn, permission is hereby granted for all lawful, ...

Snake Anatomy & Physiology

Snake Anatomy & Physiology
This article by Jerry Cates, first published in January 1999, was last revised on 23 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 01:01(02). —————————————–  Details of General Anatomical Features (click on the diagram at left for an enlarged version): Snakes have no moveable eyelids, limbs, ear openings, sternums, or urinary bladders. Most species have only one functioning lung, ...

A Diamond-backed Water Snake in Bullard, Texas

A Diamond-backed Water Snake in Bullard, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and John Wise, first published on 1 March 2010, was last revised jon 23 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:03(05). —————————————– John wrote on 14 April 2012: “Hello sir, my neighbor killed this snake in backyard in Bullard, Texas, some twelve miles south of Tyler. Could you tell me what ...

A Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake in Round Rock Texas

A Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake in Round Rock Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Katie, first published on 19 February 2010, was last revised on 23 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:02(08). —————————————– On Thursday, 21 January 2010, I received the following e-mail note from Katie, a mother with small children, who lives in southwest Round Rock, Texas: “Hi Jerry. We found this ...

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 9 February 2010, was last revised on 23 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:02(05). —————————————– The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox, Baird & Girard, 1853) is an animal (kingdom Animalia) with a hollow, dorsal nerve cord (phylum Chordata), a backbone (subphylum Vertebrata), and jaws (infraorder Gnathostomata). It is a ...